We are well known for our Great Lakes Rocks & Minerals (that’s a given), but we are also known for our custom jewelry, and our eclectic collection of rare and unusual ,world-wide, precious and semiprecious gemstones.
Just within the last week, I made a pendant for a customer in Biloxi, Mississippi. He found a beautiful stone on the beach in the state of Washington. He was unsure of what the stone was, and with a bit of research, I determined what he sent me was a piece of Ohanapecosh formation breccia from the older Cascades. The stone was glacially transported from the Mt. Rainier area to the beach where he found it. The identification was not common knowledge to me, or for most anyone else. Obscure; you bet. Just the type of rock I love. This stone was very nostalgic for the owner. I really enjoyed making something for his lady (and she loved it).
Ohanapecosh formation brecciated Quartz from the older Cascades. Wow, that’s a mouthful–I will have to try to work that name into my daily conversations, from here on out. This stone was absolutely stunning and incredible, a custom piece.
New pendants from the work bench
This Baltic Amber has been ready to wire wrap for too long. I purchased this rough from Kaliningrad, Russia a decade ago. I assume none of this is being exported currently. A beautiful clear piece with some silver leaf inclusions. This is a quality piece of Amber; very clear with a glass-like polish. Amber GoldPendant
A little different Pudding Stone, with black, red, and clear Quartz, in the normal mottled Quartzite. Candy FlecksPudding Stone Pendant I loved this agate “porthole window”, in more solid red agate–a very unusual Lake Superior Agate. I could not believe an oval port with Kilroy looking out; like a “Kilroy was here” feel. Kilroy Lake Superior Agate Pendant
Even a short blog takes time some time to write, take pictures, and publish. Some never miss our blog, others stumble onto it, and others do not connect at all. These little blogs do help us with Internet standing. Snob Appeal jewelry is not a Rock Star. We do not get a million people reading this blog. In other ways we are Rock Stars.
Our jewelry Rocks. Our jewelry has Rocks in it. Our jewelry can Rock you. Our jewelry is not made from rocks you commonly find in your local jewelry store (and we don’t want to be). Our goal is to make you something unique. Thank everyone that supports local small businesses, and thank everyone that supports Snob Appeal Jewelry. You mean a lot to us.
My consideration, before making a piece of jewelry is fairly straightforward. It mostly involves the feelings that emanate from a stone, and the enthusiasm, on my part, to proceed. As an artist, I practice seeing what a finished pendant could look like at the conclusion of wire wrapping. Also certain stones “Speak” to me, and tell me what they need.
Being able identify a finished cabochon, while looking at a rough stone has advantages. Rough stones often are cut with a finished piece of jewelry already in mind. The stone that speaks to me one day, may not be the one that speaks to me the next.
I sort through many dozens of stones, until a particular stone stands out from the rest. Once a gemstone is chosen, I can totally concentrate on a pendant until it’s finished. Bonnie knows that my concentration is so complete, that when she talks to me, I often do not hear her. She has learned that if I’m deep into my work, it might be best to not talk to me until I’m done.
Enjoy some new pieces of jewelry
Please enjoy some recent Pendants from 2023. This group is comprised of whatever stone grabbed me. There is no rhyme or reason why I made them. Let’s just say I was having fun flitting across the world of semiprecious gemstones.
Green Petrified Wood from Hampton Butte, Oregon. Green Petrified Wood is found in other places, but this is the only place in the world that the Petrified Wood is from Cedars. Verdant Cedar Petrified Wood PendantAn Actinolite Mix from the North Shore of Lake Superior. Drone ViewActinolite PendantLake Superior Agate. This one is a banded fortification type (AKA Candy Striper). Pastel CandyLake Superior Agate PendantA dime-sized Thomsonte from the North Shore of Lake Superior Soft HoneySonoran Sunset (or Sonoran Sunrise), is a beautiful combination of blue-green Crysocolla and Red Cuprite. The stone got its’ name from the Sonora Desert of Northern Mexico, where it is found. I created this piece as a unisex Pendant. This one is reminiscent of the Southwest and Mexico. Desert Illustration Sonoran Sunset PendantA beautiful example of a Copper Agate found in Mine Spoil piles, and on the beaches near the Kearsage Lode in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Bands of Copper replaced some banding in normal banded agates. Copper SwathesCopper Agate PendantFound on Lake Superior’s Northern region, this unusual Thomsonite stands out. Light pastel colors permeate the White Thomsonite. I love to create pendants from rare and unusual stones, and this hit the mark. Thomsonite SpreePendant
Where to find Snob Appeal Jewelry
The pendants shown may be inventory stock or posted on our ETSY site (snobappealjewelry/etsy.com) or our http://snobappealjewelry.com e-Commerce site. You can also find our jewelry at Copper World in Calumet, Michigan www.calumetcopper.com.
By selecting favoured (Fancy spelling to match our Pendants) Stones and designing masterful Pendants, we invest in our treasured clientele. If a piece of jewelry makes us happy, there’s a good chance the recipient will also be pleased.
I really had fun with this blog, and hope you enjoy it.
Between Christmas and New Years, the holiday rush is over. It’s a great time to create a few new wire-wrapped stone pendants. All I have to do is look thru a few hundred cabochons and see which ones inspire me. Guess what? I found some. So these are the first half dozen pendants that I created in 2023. There are links to the product page, when you “click” on the pictures.
Coober Pedy, in Australia is very famous for Black Opal. This Electric Blue doublet is very fine. A doublet is a slice of opal epoxied to a matrix stone. Blue RadianceCoober Pedy Opal PendantFire Agate is amazing material that requires careful cutting. Quality Fire Agates have Iridescence Botrioidal inclusions in Brown Quartz. The trick is to carefully remove the brown Quartz, so that the maximum iridescence shows through, I ruined a lot of Fire Agate before my skill level blossomed enough that I now know where to stop cutting the brown Quartz, and get the most from this Gemstone. This piece of Fire Agate was mined from Slaughter Mountain, Arizona, and the rough was acquired at the Tucson Gem Shows a decade ago. Supernatural Fire Agate PendantLeland Blue Stone (Slag Glass from Leland Michigan). “Leland Blue” is a very popular material from the old Smelter in Leland (NW Lower Michigan). I cut this one as a Quarter-sized heart. Blue Glaze Leland Blue PendantI’m glad I purchased this Catseye Jade a decade ago. Mined in Siberia, this gemstone, due to Russian embargo. is now very scarce. The gemstone shows a distinct “Cats-eye”, as the stone is moved with light shinining on it. Intimate Glow Cats-eye JadePendantOcean Jasper from the NW coast of Madagascar has always been a popular lapidary material. Circa 2000, it was intoduced in Tucson. Gene Mueller (The Gem Shop) had the good stuff back in the day. Old stock, like this, was mined out around 2006, so the heyday was short.. Particularly popular was the material with orbicular inclusions, like this stone. Spherical Galaxy Ocean Jasper PendantDrusy (Druzy) Quartz in comprised of natural Quartz pockets; some left in their natural state, but the majority of Drusy is manufactured in India, using dyeing and/or Titanium Deposition. This deposition creates fantastic colorations and flashy gemstones. This is a gemstone you wear when you want to be flashy. Frosty GlacierDruzy Pendant
I hope you enjoyed this selection of brand new wire-wrapped stone pendants. We appreciate our customers, and hope you enjoy your new jewelry in 2023, and beyond! Thanks for shopping our small business.
Twelve New handmade pendants for the Twelve Days of Christmas. Appreciate the stones and the short stories of each one. This should make you smile.
The stone stories are worth reading, and may enhance your Holidays
Phenomenal Copper Pendant I would not refer to this as a Copper Agate. as there is a lack of banding. This stone is actually Copper, Prehnite, Epidote, Datolite, and Chlorite. The odd and unusual is what made us famous, and this fits our niche for sure. We were camped in the Keweenaw near Lake Linden this summer, when Bonnie came in and said, “Look who’s just pulled into the campsite next to us”. They tuned out to be friends, from Wisconsin, that camp near us in a campground in Tucson many times, during the Tucson Gem & Mineral Shows. We’ve also hunted the rock spoil piles together in the Keweenaw. Small world. I discovered that our friends had some old stock Cabochons for sale. This, as well as some Copper Agates, and Silver/Copper Nuggets (Half Breeds), got me excited. This was A fun time with old friends; small world.Florid Daze Pudding Stone Pendant Pudding Stones are interesting; Quartzite containing other stones (especially Red Jasper) I’ve seen many other rocks in Pudding Stones. Lake Superior Agate, pieces of colored Quartz, Amethyst, and black Tourmaline. This special piece featured a larger that average piece of bright red Jasper. This Pudding Stone makes me smile whenever i gaze upon it. As a bit of trivia for you: Pudding Stones were glacially transported from their source near Sudbury, Canada. It’s fun to figure out how far they traveled. THE LAST PUDDING STONE I FOUND “SURFED” 326 MILES!!Warm Harmony Thunder Bay Seam Agate Pendant The best I recall, this happened back in 2000. I drove up to Thunder Bay on Lake Superior’s North Shore. I had very good luck digging Amethyst East of Thunder Bay. A small sign along the road said “Thunder Bay Seam Agate”. What is this (?), I thought. I recall a small retail building, where Seam Agate could be purchased, along with jewelry and baubles. People could also go seach the trenched area, and pick up whatever they wanted to purchase. There was a dirt covered employee working hard on breaking up and cutting, larger pieces for the store to sell. I saw one beautiful large, crystal and agate infested chunk of Seam Agate that the worker was ready to break up. This piece would have been around 40 pounds. Was this a good deal, or a bad deal? I offered him some American Cash and threw the rock in the back of my Dakota. After i left, I thought; was the minion suppose to sell me that rock? (or did he just need some American cash?) I did not know; or care, at the time. I think any statute of limitation has long since passed.. Research on “Seam Agate” later revealed that this deposit was exhumed when they were building a new road in the area. Someone purchased the property and opened the mine. I believe that the agate seam flowed all the way down to lake Superior, maybe a mile away. The area all the way down to the beach was all filled with housing and that property that the Seam Agate Mine was on, was probably no more than an acre of two. Eventually after maybe three years that Lode played out, there was some financial situation, and no other areas that could be searched. The mine closed up. I still have a large piece of Seam Agate, and this stuff is very scarce to find and pricey to buy; so I guess I did make a good deal. Being at the right place at the right time often pays off.Brush Fire Moss Agate Pendant Garden Agate from the island of Java in Indonesia, is a beautiful Moss Agate. This piece was located in a Gaylord box in Quartzite; way at the bottom. Back in the day rooting through these big boxes was fun. Today, I would never be wrecking my body “Dumpster Diving”. The background is bright dark red moss agate which allows the green crystals to stand out. Do they look like snow covered pines?Reverie Fordite Pendant “Fordite” is a generic name for oversprayed paint. Sometimes a close search on line, looking at old paint color charts may give a hint as to what the paint was used for. I am not sure about the vehicle, boat, or toy, this paint was used on. It is bright, quite metallic, and patriotic colors. Makes me want to salute. As a word of caution; Much Fordite is manufactured in China, or other countries, nowdays. My love for Victoria Stone goes back to the mid-70’s. Formally known at Iimori Stone, it was marketed in Tucson as Victoria Stone. You can read an extensive blog on this gorgeous man-made stone in my “Snob Blog”. It was fortunate I started purchasing Victoria Stone, when I could find it back then. Now the original Victoria Stone is very scarce, but there are a few simulates out there, (but none as spectacular as the original). I have a fair supply of Victoria Stone, but am bombarded by other collectors to sell some of my stash, which I don’t often do. You will find many brightly colored Victoria Stone pendants on our website. Very recently I was looking over one of my Victoria Stone cabs, and one spectacular bright green beauty called to me. Dark Green and Light Blue were always the most popular colors in Victoria Stone. I held onto it until the joys of Christmas, this year, convinced me to create one of the finest festive Victoria Stone Pendants I’ve ever created. I often have dreams of jewelry I should make, and this was pendant was made when I awoke with the idea at 2am. My jewelry dreams are usually very detailed, except I had to see if Bonnie brought along the beads I needed to create this masterpiece. Not wanting to awaken a sleeping bear, I waited until later in the day. Fortunately she had something that would work. I wanted to design something that could be worn at Christmas, but also during the rest of the year, as a floral wreath. Bonnie has worn the pendant several times this holiday season, and everyone seems to love it.Sunrise Lake Superior Agate Pendant Everyone that knows me well, knows that Lake Superior Agates are my very favorite Gemstones to make jewelry with. I have a friend that owns a cemetery in Minnesota. He has a large parcel of property in an urban area. On that property is a “Reverse” gravel pit. What is that, you are probably asking? Construction types pay him to dump stones on his property; roof ballast, landscape rock, and gravel. This is his private gravel pit. He allows us to hunt there for Lakers. Guess what else? Whenever a construction person needs gravel or rocks, he sells them what people have paid him to dump on his property. He makes money both ways. How awesome is that? I found this stone on that property. What makes this Laker unique is a couple things. First, it contains yellow (somewhat scarce in Lakers). The Agate is also a partial “Shadow Agate”‘ as well as a picture agate. The agate was crack free, and took a glass-like polish. It’s about a Quarter size.Dark Eyed Thomsonite is a North Shore Superior Treasure. Most of it is now found in a small beach, all privately owned near Gran Marais, Minnesota. If you tried to hunt that beach, you would risk injury or death, as the residents are very protective. On a Lake Superior Circle Tour in our RV we stopped at an RV park in Gran Marias. We saw one of the churches in town was putting on a breakfast to raise money. A random conversation with another man at our table, revealed an adventure may be in store. He noticed Bonnie was wearing a Thomsonite and he admitted he lived on Thomsonite beach. He said we could look for Thomsonite on the beach, but he would have to go with us, to ward off other beach residents. A short search produced several nice Thomsonite pieces. This gentleman was quite old, so we returned to his house , after a short beach hunt. I looked at some rocks he had found, and I do not recall if i bought any or not, but this was a wonderful unexpected adventure.Thomsonite Masked Hombre Pendant Another dark Eyed Thomsonite from the North Shore. This one I purchase from an individual that owned property covered with Thomsonite-filled Amigdaloidal Basalt. Thomsonite is very brittle and difficult to extract from its’ host. It is also VERY sensitive to harmonic vibrations and heat. The wheels on my Genie have to be true, broken in, and lots of water emitted on themRipples Lake Superior Agate Pendant Perfect “Candy Striped’ Lakers are classic. These are THE Laker everyone immediately associates with a Lake Superior Agate. I swapped some jewelry for this Agate. First Snowfall Agate Pendant You can invent any number of stories about this beautiful piece of Jasper/Agate. My story starts with a snowy day far in the north. Because of the icy conditions, no matter the weather, a trip out to find food, firewood, or use the outhouse is risky. You really do not want to stray too far out on the icy glacier. For whatever reason you go abroad, it’s aways nice to get back to shelter. It almost looks like a wizard with a pointed hat headed back home,. Telephoto lens picks up the wizard in the ice fog.Wasteland Deschutes Picture Jasper Pendant Imagine the devastating forces, it might look like a science fiction movie scene. The real creation of this is much simpler; Picture Jasper is a type of jasper that forms from mud that drips into gas pockets in molten lava.
Links have been connected to the pictures of the stones that we have for sale on line. Click on any picture to see if it is “linked”.
If you need more information on any of these Story Stones, send an inquiry to us at; Snobappealjewelry@yahoo.com
Winters in Florida are usually very pleasant.. Recently we had to deal with the uncertainty of Tropical Storm (later Cat 1 Hurricane) Nicole, as it hit the east coast of Florida. While “sheltering in place”, I had the opportunity to create some Pendants while watching the Weather Channel.
“Windy Beach” was created while storm force winds shook our RV. You can actually see some of the flying pieces of Spanish Moss. This “Moss” was everywhere.It’s not really moss, but you can look it up on line if you wish.Owyhee Picture Jasper.
It seemed like forever for this storm to finally make landfall in south Florida. Fortunately this was well south of us, but we did feel the effects in Jacksonville, with storm surge, beach erosion and two days of steady rain and wind. Owning a big RV gives us some feeling of security. If the power goes off, we still have a generator, in case it’s needed. We have water and food; we have each other. For “medicinal purposes’ we have adult beverages in the fridge. The locals say it’s no big deal, unless mandatory evacuations are ordered (in which case we pack up and move the house). Luckily November hurricanes have been uncommon.
A beautiful Petoskey Stone pendant in Rose Gold and Argentium Sterling was named “Gray Skies” The large species reminded me of Nicole, a very large storm. A slight maroon tinge adds rarity to this particular species (Hexagonaria Anna). Anna is one of the two largest species of Hexagonaria. Anna is an unusual find, especially a perfectly patterned specimen with coloration..This very unusual Painted Lake Superior Agate sported a blue-gray base with orange blotches. I called this “Weather Radar“. It resembled thesome of the radar images on the Weather Channel.This striking Pudding Stone brought to mind the “Scattered Debris” left behind by Nicole.“Coming Ashore” seemed the perfect name for this Lake Superior Amethyst Laker.This Michipicoten Agate was aptly named “Storm Surge”.
Rain for two solid days, and steady 45 MPH winds shook the RV. We pulled the slides in and hunkered down. It was an especially good time to make up some hurricane jewelry. I was not rushed or stressed, but I was inspired to create some storm related jewelry art. This also took my mind off of the remote posssibilty of Biblical flooding, or a tree falling on the bus. Fortunately the latter never happened, but great pieces of jewelry were created. I decided to give each piece a Storm-related name.
Some of our “Snowbird” jewelry. These Pendants are a cross between Florida andtheGreat Lakes region. Michigan’s State Gemstone, the Isle Royale Greenstone, and a lovely Eyed Thomsonite, From Superior’s North Shore, are “hatched” in common Cockle Shells, from Florida Beaches (or what’s left of Florida Beaches). Our 5 year old Granddaughter only brings me the best Cockle’s she finds.
All my new “Hurricane” jewelry will be available on this website, or available in our show inventory. If you call us, We can help you obtain any of these pendants. If a pendant is posted on one of our websites, it will link when you “click” on the picture.
I never looked in the bottom of this dish. What a surprise when I found bigger pieces of old Victoria Stones.
Imagine my delight and surprise when some old Victoria Stone was uprooted in my shop!
Out of all the blogs I’ve published in the past decade, my blogs on Victoria Stone stay consistent in their’ popularity. Victoria Stone was a man-made material, manufactured by Dr. S. Iimori in Japan in the mid-60s. At that time this beautiful, chatoyant material was marketed as Iimori Stone. Within a couple years the name of Iimori’s creation, started selling at the Tucson Shows as Victoria Stone. Victoria Stone was a hot seller, and a renowned lapidary material through the mid 60s to around 1980.
Victoria Stone Boules
The two boules I have are “Quiet Green” and “White”. The white boule has not had the crust removed. Boules were all approximately 5″ tall, the top is the bottom of the boules in the picture; the top was about 4″ across, and the bottom tapers down to around 3″.I have to carefully peel off the crust of my white boule prior to slicing. My green Victoria Stone boule is ready for slicing.The top of a Victoria Stone boule became depressed from shrinkage as it slowly dried. TThe green bole clearly shows the unique crystallization that apps at the top of all Victoria Stone Boules.It appears that this boule is celebrating its’ 60th birthday.The bottom of a Victoria Stone is a clear indication of the shape of the vessel it was poured into.
The process of manufacturing Victoria Stone was similar to making glass. Molten material was poured into vessels, called Boules. The boules were approximately. Boules were tapered like a glass, larger at the top with a bowl-shaped bottom. A glass like material was used as a releasing agent for the boule after it was cooled and dried (this liner material appeared like a glass-plaster on the boules, and had to be ground off before the boules were ready for cutting into slabs). The top of the boules showed shrinkage, and became slightly depressed. The top also displayed unique crystallization. My understanding is that the cooling and drying process had to be very precise, or the Victoria Stone would not be useable. Many hours were involved in this slow cooling of the boules.
For a very long time, slicing my two boules has been on my to-do list. I think I have just been fearful (OK chicken) of cutting these boules. When I do, I’m going to produce a Youtube video of cutting them. I first have to carefully “peel” my white boule (and this also is a concern).
Three blue colors of Victoria Stone. The top two are “Sky Indigo”; Left bottom is “Sky Blue”; Bottom right is “Deep Indigo”.
Victoria Stone came in many colors. Here’s a sample.
Over the years several attempts have been made to duplicated Victoria Stone, with little success. Only recently have makers come close. It has been a real challenge over the years to create a Simulant of this Simulant. I admit that some of these simulants are wonderful, but no-one has duplicated the classic, original Victoria Stone.
Let’s get back to my Victoria Stone Surprise.
I am genrally totally unorganized in my shop. Bonnie (wife) occasionally will decide she is going to “straighten up” my area. She can’t help that she is a retired librarian. To be honest, she has accomplished wonders. One of her recent finds was a container of Victoria Stone scraps that I have saved. These “scraps” were saved for making earrings or rings at some point. I actually have looked at that small dish; thinking “I should do something with those scraps”.
The other day, I rooted through those small pieces of Victoria Stone, and to my delight and suprise, there were larger pieces of nice Victoria Stone, UNDER all those small pieces. These were large enough to make into pendant cabs. About half the slabs were cracked and crazed (Victoria Stone often gets that way), but a half dozen were still in amazing condition.
Don gets excited
Black Victoria Stone was not a hot color back in the day. This makes it quite a rare find today.G
To say I was thrilled to find these treasures, after hiding for nearly 6 decades, is an understatement. Needless to say, they went right to the grinder. Grinding and polishing Victoria Stone can be challenging, but it waa like everything came back into focus. I was back in the mid-70s again, happily grinding and polishing Victoria Stone. Let’s throw on a little Disco Music and get to work!
Magically, there were three different Victoria Stone Blue colors in my finds– Sky Blue, Sky Indigo, and Deep Indigo. These three colors were all very popular. I also found a chunk of Black Victoria Stone; a distinctive color, and now more rare because it was not one of the most popular colors.
Gazing upon a polished piece of original Victoria Stone is such a treat. The crystallization, chatoyancy, and rich colors are just delicious. These pictures just do not do justice to this material.
Lapidary Stuff
Clearly a top slice from a Victoria Stone Boule. This type of pattern only appeared at the top of a Victoria Stone Boule. Compare this top crystallization to stones in previous pictures.
One of the blue slabs was a surprise because of its’ crystallization. The top of all the Victoria Stone Boules developed a star-like cross pattern ONLY the top of the boule developed this pattern. I’m not sure how this happened in Victoria Stone, but that first slab off the top of the boule was always the most coveted and rare slice. because of this rare crystallization. A Deep Indigo slab had this tell-tale pattern. I was doubly excited about this piece and took extra caution with it.
From the bottom of a scrap container to a finished Pendant.Sky Indigo Victoria Stone Pendant Victoria Stone wedding Pendant
Victoria Stone is sensitive to harmonic vibrations of the hard genie wheels. I used an old, broken in, very smooth, perfectly balanced, Galaxy Wheel (220), then went to the 280 soft Nova wheel for most of the forming. I never recommend using a newer Galaxy Wheel for Victoria Stone, but I have one that is super smooth and true, so I got away with it. I can’t tell you how many times a nice Victoria Stone has become a victim of harmonics, but it’s not pretty when it happens. In addition, use lots of water and do not overheat Victoria Stone. My polishing involves white rouge and a high speed buff, being careful not to overheat the stone. It is safer to use a flat lap for polishing, if you have one.
My wife, Bonnie’s personal collection of Victoria Stone includes EIGHT Victoria Stone Pendants. If you asked her why she has so many pieces of VS jewelry, she would say ‘There are just so many colors and patterns’. she’s in a position to grab stuff off my workbench and claim it for her own. Not a problem with me; She’s been my best friend, and has put up with me for 45 years. We both agree that Victoria Stone is pretty special.
Unless I have a specific Lapidary Project, things are pretty random regarding what rocks, Mnerals, or Fossils I make jewelry from. Heres some new things you’ve not seen.
Crinoid’s are interesting animals; many times people think they are some prehistoric Plant. Crinoids are marine animals that make up the class Crinoidea, one of the classes of the phylum Echinodermata, which also includes the starfish, brittle stars, sea urchins and sea cucumbers. Sea Lilies are still around today, and are related to Crinoids from the Devonian Period.
How do I know you’ve not seen this jewelry? It involved my camera not working, Logically if my camera is broken, I cannot take jewelry pictures. It’s reasonable to presume that by not having any pictures of some new work, it would be impossible for you to see it.
A different camera was the ticket to taking some new pictures. This array of jewelry pictures shows what I go through. I see something that attracts me; it can be any stone at any time. In the middle of the night (often) an inspiration overtakes my brain, and I pop out of bed to make a new piece of jewelry. Here are a few recent art pieces.
Sometimes my wife, Bonnie, goes searching around our buckets, boxes, and bins. She often finds amazing things from back in the day. If she finds something rare and amazing, she’ll bring it into my shop. “Bonnie Treasures” are often cut and polished right away.
Top right clockwise: Lake Superior Agate, Copper Nugget with Chlorite, Quincy Datolite with Copper inclusions, Megalodon Tooth, and Delaware Datolite with copper inclusions,
Other times I go in search of things near my Genie (Lapidary machine). I often pile much things up around that machine and others, then forget I left it there. Searching though these near materials in also often rewarding.
50 Little Isle Royale Greenstones awaiting new homes
Have you always wanted to own and wear something from Isle Royale? How great would it be if it was a Greenstone Pendant? Greenstone pendants made with Greenstones from Isle Royale are treasured for their beauty and rarity.
Several years ago I purchased a Greenstone collection that had been hidden in a garage in Lake Linden, Michigan for 50 years.
Over the years this stash has been my go-to trove for creating some of my best Isle Royale Greenstone Jewelry, although I already had some Isle Royale stones from other sources.
Our best sellers, by far, are small Greenstone pendants. While in Florida this last winter, my goal was to produce an entire tray of little Greenstone dazzlers. A “tray” consists of 50 Greenstone Pendants (each one fits in a 1 1/8″ X 3/4″ Acrylic container).
Isle Royale Greenstone with Feldspar in this one.
The smaller the Greenstone the more difficult it is to make a pendant, using conventional wire wrapping tools and techniques. I make many of my own tools to facilitate wrapping these small gemstones. The circumference of these stones are generally between an inch to an inch and a half. Good tools are one secret to producing good jewelry with precious metal wire. I purchase quality tools and adapt them, so I can create delicate pendants. Some of the handtools I create don’t work quite right, but after a couple decades of trial and error, I have invented just the right tools to make small pendants. Although the pendants appear simple, they are not easy to make.
A little Thomsonte inclusion adds to the excellent Chlorastrolite.
If I ever write a book on wire wrapping, I’ll show some adapted wire wrapping tools, but for now I keep some secrets. My best sellers are these small Greenstone Pendants, and I just don’t want the market to be flooded with Snob Appeal Knockoffs.
My small Greenstone pendants have some common traits. 1. They fit in 1-1/8″ X 3/4″ round acrylic gemstone jars. 2. They are made from my finest Greenstones from Isle Royale. 3. They are simply wrapped so as not to distract from the beautiful Greenstones 4. They have small bails that match the small stones (IF you put a larger bail on a tiny stone the proportions become incorrect). 5. The wire wrapping is fairly simple (again so as not to distract form the pattern of these little shiners. 6. Most are under $200! (not bad for a Greenstone actually from Isle Royale).
Each Greenstone has its’ own character, coloration, green shade, and pattern. Greenstones from Isle Royale are generally distinctive from greenstones from the mine dumps in the Keweenaw. Although I have found many mainland stones that you cannot tell from Island Stones, on the whole, and on the average, Island stones are more solid with better patterns.
I sell these little beauties on line, as well as at Copper World in Calumet, Miners North in Traverse City, and The Miners Den in Royal Oak.
Think you can’t afford a Greenstone? As an investment or heirloom, these small Isle Royal Greenstones top the list. They are made from delicate-looking 24 gauge double gold fill wire (Rose or Gold), Argentium Sterling (Tarnish resistant sterling silver), or a combination of the three precious metals. In any setting they make a graduation gift like no other, or a Mother’s Day gift that won’t be forgotten by next week!
These pendants are exceptional examples of Michigan’s official State gemstone, that can be worn with anything. Add a pair of Greenstones earrings, for a beautiful ensemble.
Did you ever think about how similar Marra Mamba Tigers Eye and Binghamite are? NO, you mean you haven’t? It’s amazing to me how unrelated rocks, that came from places so remote from each other, resemble each other. Let’s first look at Binghamite, then talk about Marra Mamba.
Characterstics of Binghamite
Binghamite/Silkstone Is a highly sought after gemstone material from Minnesota’s Cuyuna Iron Range. The mine where Binghamite was found is long closed, and even the spoil piles are depleated. Binghamite can still be found at swap meets and rock & mineral Shows. Binghamite is also sometimes known as American Pietersite, because of its’ silky chatoyancy. My opinion is that it has the appearance of fine Tiger Iron from Australia more than Pietersite from South Africa. Pietersite generally contains no iron and loads of chatoyancy. Tiger Iron, Marra Mamba, and Binghamite, all contain the iron element, and in my opinion have much more character than does Pietersite.
A flashlight on the face of this amazing Binghamite shows the “glow” of the Goethite and the Hematite in this gorgeous pendant. Binghamite, like this beauty, are very difficult to find.
Do Old Collections Yield Rare Stones?
Purchasing old collections is a wise investment most of the time. When you find things like high grade, picture Binghamite, in an old collection, it’s a special day. Every time I looked at one particular little slab of Binghamite I found in an old collection, I saw new things. I thought I would bring this Cab to the top of my “make jewelry” list; but guess what? I put it in a “safe place” and forgot about it for 10 years! I rediscovered this shiny stone, and put it in a tray to travel to Florida with us this winter. I placed it on my work bench, and looked at it for a couple months. This Binghamite Cabochon was begging me to make it into a pendant, all that time. I cut and polished it with My Pixie Machine out on our picnic table. Man, that stone sparkled in the sun. I cut and shaped this slab into a square picture, a Magical and Ethereal Cabochon indeed.
Binghamite is a rock containing Chalcedony (a form of micro-crystalline Quartz). In the case of Binghamite the Chalcedony contains fibrous iron oxide, Hematite and/or Goethite. It has been explained to me that Binghamite is a Chalcedony replacement of Fibrous Goethite-Hematite. It’s hard to get my head around how this causes a play of color not unlike Tiger’s Eye, but it does.
What is undercutting?
The hardness of Binghamite varies. The more Hematite in the stone, the more difficult to cut and polish. The term “Undercutting” is applied. Undercutting occurs when cutting material with different hardnesses within one stone. Because some areas are softer they tend to cut deeper than surrounding areas. A lot of finesse is involved when cutting, and this is the case with Binghamite. The best polish obtainable may be a Matte Finish.
Really good Binghamite will certainly outshine Tiger Iron, but will not hold a candle to Marra Mamba.
Characteristics of Marra Mamba
Marra Mamba is considered the finest form of Tiger’s Eye ( I refer to Tiger Eye and Tiger’s Eye in this Blog. Both are acceptable) by many collectors and lapidarists. In the Hamersley Ranges of the Pilbara region in Australia, there are a iron rich areas where Australian tiger-eye has been found. The best-known area is near Mount Brockman. A ridge of hills a few miles long has produced good quality golden-colored material from a number of small deposits. The “true” Marra Mamba is a very rare type of Tiger Eye, and was only found in two areas. Vivid chatoyant blues, reds, yellows, gold, and greens! (see note below) can all be present in Marra Mamba.. These areas have been mined out of Marra Mamba since the early 70’s. Hematite is also a major component in Marra Mamba, and in the case of this particular cabochon, makes polishing it very tricky.
Is Marra Mamba still available?
Marra Mamba may be scarce but I found some in Tucson a few years back.Seven years ago I was checking out the tables of Australian Outback Mining at the Tucson Shows. Looking through Glenn Archer’s stash of Tiger Eye and Tiger Iron, I noticed unusual blue colorations in one of his rough pieces. I mentioned to Bonnie that I really thought it was Marra Mamba, but rough MM is very difficult to find and quite expensive. AFTER I bought the rock, I showed it to Glenn, and he confirmed that it was Marra Mamba; “I guess I missed that one”, was his comment. I would not have seen the telltale signs had the bright Tucson sun not been shining on the rock at precisely the right angle. If you are lucky, you can still find this gemstone. What I look for in Marra Mamba that is different from Tigers Eye, is some Blue areas, that you don’t see in ordinary Tigers Eye.
Here’s Binghamite Out in the Florida sunlight,,,AMAZING!! See the picture of the Tigers Iron slab below, and compare to the Binghamite.A large and spectacular, polished piece of Marra Mamba for sale by legendary Miner, Glenn Archer (Owner of Australian Outback Mining) several years ago at the Tucson Shows. I intentionally inserted the short movie of my Binghamite Pendant to directly compare it to the Marra Mamba slab seen at the Tucson shows. It’s unfortunate you cannot see these stones in person. No picture can do this justice!
Another picture from a Tucson gem show trip: Looks like giant Bacon Slabs; and I LOVE Bacon!
About my Finished Binghamite Pendant (It passed Quality Control)
I decided on Gold wire, and I did not “cheap” on the quantity. I piled those wires into a 12 wire high bundle. My usual rule in no more than 10 wires. I wanted to achieve a simple, elegant, yet expensive look, and nothing does this like being extravagant with the gold. Careful planning and excecution, and a couple hours of intense concentration, produced a wire wrap job befitting this stone. Quality Control (Bonnie) smiled, and declared it “elegant”. Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!
Piles of Tiger Eye are occasionally seen in Tucson and Quartzsite. You won’t find piles of Marra Mamba though. These piles are better searched when they are wet.
I understand, from my metaphysically inclined friends that Marra Mamba is a favorite of female Shamans, and has multiple benefits. It is said to invoke the powers of the far seeing eye, and bring health and well being. I know it makes ME happy. I see new things each time I look at this gemstone; amazing landscapes, and fantastic colors seem to reflect different features within. The evening sun shines thru, reflecting rich, chatoyant colors, and mysterious places. Trivia Alert! The Dalai Lama often wears Tiger’s Eye Beads. That may, or may not be and important fact, but I love trivia.
Beautiful Marra Mamba pendant.
Beware of False Claims.
I have noticed much of the Australian Tiger Eye on line, being sold as Marra Mamba, is not real Marra Mamba. Buyers must beware.
Ordinary Tiger’s Eye from Australia is somewhat dull as compared to Tiger Eye from South Africa. Tiger Iron from Australia, on the other had, can be very gemmy.
In Conclusion
Tiger Eye is found in many places around the world, but Australia is the only place where Marra Mamba was, and is, found. While Tiger’s Eye is quite common, Marra Mamba is not. I would love to have more Marra Mamba, as would most Lapidarists and Jewelry Makers, but it is quite scarce. Occasionally I exhume a piece from my old rock piles.
I do not believe I can channel all the metaphysical powers of Tiger’s Eye or Marra Mamba, like the Dalai Lama, but making jewelry from Marra Mamba certainly makes me happy.
I’ve learned that Michipicoten agates are sometimes difficult to polish. They seem to be somewhat of a “peeler” agate, prone to flaking. They sometimes look really nice shaped and polished! This one is Opaque, but not all are.The back is as striking as the front!
Michipicoten Island in Lake Superior is the 6th largest Island in the Great Lakes, way out west of WaWa (Now you’re asking where the heck is Wawa?) Ontario. Travellers tip: Visit Wawa and see the giant Canadian Goose. OK, break out your Canada map. I have a feeling by the time I’m done typing this blog, I’ll be sick and tired of typing “Michipicoten”. I think Michipicoten is an old Indian name meaning “fairly remote place with no satellite TVs”. . My middle name is “Sarcasm”, so the winter residents of Michipecoten Island (Mostly Reindeer, and the wolves that eat them) must forgive me in advance for anything I say in this blog; also I tend to make stuff up, or factiously write things. Since I have never been to Michipecoten Island, I have to use the Internet for research. I always trust the Internet to be honest…NOT!
The word Michipicoten is an Anglicization of the original Ojibwe word Mishipikwadina, meaning “big bluffs” in Ojibwe, and is a reference to the geography of the nearby Michipicoten River.
Try as I may, I just can’t work the word “Michipicoten” into my daily vocabulary. I’d like to, just because it is so much fun to say. Even though Michipicoten Island is the second largest Island within the Great Lakes, it’s a wild and remote place. I understand that there is a healthy population of Woodland Caribou (introduced to Michipicoten Island in 1980); and Beavers seem to be thriving there. I believe that the Duluth Trading Company’s Logo Beaver may have come from there. Santa’s vacation home is located there also.
I’ve never been to Michipicoten Island, and may never go there. No, let’s get real; I will NEVER visit Michipicoten Island. I live vicariously through Agates I have purchased from a friend in Sault St. Marie, Canada. I now occasionally find one of these Michipicoten Agates in the barn, and make jewelry from it.
An example of Carrot Agate from Michipicoten Island.
Michipicoten Agates tend to be either oval shaped or ‘Carrot shaped”; like stalactites. These are shockingly refered to as “Carrot Agates”. Most of these carrots I have are pretty much Quartz Crystal, while a few are pretty nice agates, and can be sliced like bread. Agates on Michipicoten Island are very common in the local bedrock, but they are just for looking at, and are illegal to collect.
The inside of a Michipicoten Agate can be Common Quartz or beautiful agate.
Michipicoten Island became a Provincial Park in 1985. A Provincial Park, in Canada, is like National Park in America. Provincial Parks are protected areas, and like our National Parks, any “Natural Objects” cannot be removed. Michipicoten Agates, I’ve learned, are classified as “Natural Objects”.
You could book a hotel room on Michipicoten Island, except there are no Hotels. I could take our RV, except there is no RV Campground, 40 mile long bridge, or ferry. There are a few privately owned camps and cabins, that have grandfathered in, or you could simply take a boat to the Island, and camp on the beach. Not my cup of tea. We don’t tent camp anymore, and “Rough camping”, for us, is the satellite Antenna is not working on the RV. I hate it when a tree is in the way of the Dish. My understanding is that Kayaking is a popular Island activity (there are tour companies that sponsor Kayak tours to Michipicoten Island), as well as enjoying the Black Flies that live there. Actually Kayaking around Michipicoten island is on many Kayaker’s bucket lists (Sea Kayaks recommended). I use the word “around” as circumnavigating this Island.
I checked Tripadvisor for lodging and food on Michipicoten Island. Nothing available. I guess you have to book years in advance.
My wife and editor suggests that I keep on the subject; That being Michipicoten Agates.
OK, I enjoy all Lake Superior Agates, but I especially like unusual and rare types. Michipicoten Agates fall into that group. Unless I’m 100% sure a Laker is from Michipicoten Island, I do not refer to it as such. The few Michipicoten Agates I possess, or the jewelry I make from Michipicoten Agates, is guaranteed to be from Michipicoten Island, and was removed from this island decades ago.
I’m sure, if Michipicoten Island was not so remote, more agates would be available. I covet the few I have, and will continue to make some jewelry available in the future. By the way I am tired of typing Michipicoten.
Footnote: No agate jewelry can be delivered to Michipicoten Island. The closest thing to a post office is a lighthouse. Agates, as mentioned before, cannot be removed from Michipicoten Island. My wife (Bonnie) strives for a certain number of steps on her FitBit each day. Why can’t I strive for typing “Michipicoten” a couple dozen times? My editor (Bonnie) later suggested I spell Michipicoten Island correctly one time, then copy and paste it wherever I needed it. Hits self in head; Why did I not think of this? Possible answers: 1. It’s 3am 2. I’ve had no coffee 3. I should not risk awakening my Editor.
